Ranya Rao case effect: No security protocol for bureaucrats' family at Bengaluru airport anymore

BENGALURU: Stung by the way the protocol wing at KIA was misused to allegedly aid gold-smuggling operations, the state govt has decided to revise the standard operating procedures, stating family members and friends of senior bureaucrats will not be entitled to use the services of protocol staff.
Additional chief secretary (home) Umashankar SR said security protocol will be provided only to officials who are travelling and not their family members or relatives. The move comes after the arrest of actor Ranya Rao, who was caught smuggling gold allegedly misusing protocol privileges.

Staffer detained, then let off
There is no provision for extending security to anyone beyond the officer (IPS or IAS). Additional security is provided only in cases where an official faces threat... then security may be extended to the officer's immediate family," he said.
State police protocol came under scanner after DRI detained Ranya Rao on charges of gold smuggling. Sources in DRI had detained the protocol staffer and decided to make him her accomplice in the case. However, the staffer was let off after he gave a statement specifying that he had been given instructions to receive the DGP's daughter on landing and that he had no clue as to what she was carrying.
Ranya Rao admits
In a voluntary statement to DRI and reviewed by TOI, Ranya said, “I’m born and brought up in Bengaluru. I studied up to (class) 12. I’m an artist in the film industry/ theatre. I’m a wildlife photographer and freelancer in real estate in Dubai...”||
I’m married to Jatin Hukkeri, an architect, and stay with him on Lavelle Road. I have read the mahazar dated March 3 drawn at Kempegowda International Airport and affixed my dated signature as a token of having seen the mahazar. I accept that 17 pieces of gold bars were recovered from my possession.”